FOUR goals from Jane Ross helped Rangers pick up three points in their opening SWPL match with a dominant 7-0 victory over Hamilton this afternoon.
Ross had her hat-trick inside the opening half-hour of the match before she added a fourth in the second-half with Lizzie Arnot, Demi Vance and Zoe Ness also on target for Gers at New Douglas Park.
Malky Thomson named four changes from the last outing against Boroughmuir Thistle in the SWPL Cup. Jenna Fife was back in goal for Gers with Kirsten Reilly, Brogan Hay and Jane Ross all returning to the starting XI.
Rangers started brightly as they looked for an early breakthrough in their opening league match of the season.
Lizzie Arnot forced a fantastic save from Lisa Kerr in the opening five minutes of the match as she drove a powerful shot at goal which was tipped over the bar by the Hamilton number 1.
The lead did come with just eight minutes on the clock, Arnot was alert to pick-up on a loose ball from Hamilton just outside the box as she touched it into the path of Jane Ross. On her league debut for Gers, Ross looped a fantastic right-footed effort over the keeper and into the back of the net to give Malky Thomson’s side an early advantage.
It was almost two as Demi Vance's cross was touched towards goal by Chelsea Cornet but Hamilton keeper Lisa Kerr got a touch to knock it onto the post before the danger was cleared by the home side.
Rangers were piling the pressure on Hamilton in the early stages as Chantelle Swaby picked out Kirsten Reilly in space in the box but her header was over the bar.
The second goal did come on the 12th minute as last season’s SWPL top goalscorer Lizzie Arnot opened her account for the new campaign. Demi Vance touched the ball into the path of Arnot as she fired a shot high into the top of the net to double Rangers’ advantage.
Ross had her second goal of the game five minutes later as Rachel McLauchlan delivered an inviting cross across the face of goal which was flicked home from close range to give Rangers a 3-0 advantage.
Summer signing Jane Ross had her hat-trick with only 28 minutes on the clock. The ex-Manchester United forward made a good run into the box and was picked out by Lizzie Arnot. Ross showed great calmness and composure to slot a low effort into the back of the net.
Brogan Hay saw a shot saved by Kerr, before Lizzie Arnot dragged a shot just wide of the target as the Light Blues looked to add to their tally at New Douglas Park.
Malky Thomson named one change to his side at half-time as Tessel Middag replaced Kirsten Reilly.
Rangers continued their rhythm in the second-half and added a fourth goal in the 53rd minute.
Tessel Middag’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Hamilton but fell to Lizzie Arnot on the left and she drilled a ball across the face of goal which Jane Ross guided into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the afternoon.
Gers made further changes in the second-half as Sam Kerr, Zoe Ness, Emma Brownlie and Kirsty Maclean were all introduced from the bench.
Brogan Hay picked out the run of Emma Brownlie who shot just wide, before Zoe Ness saw a powerful shot curl away from the target.
With 10 minutes of the game remaining, Emma Brownlie delivered a ball into the box which took a bounce before being headed into the back of the net by Demi Vance.
Rangers were relentless and added a seventh goal in the 86th minute, Demi Vance’s shot hit the post with the rebound falling to Zoe Ness who made no mistake in netting her first goal of the league campaign.
Rangers: Fife, Docherty (Kerr, 56), Westrup, Swaby, McLauchlan (Brownlie, 64), Reilly (Middag, 46), Cornet, Vance, Arnot (Maclean, 64), Hay, Ross (Ness, 56). Subs: Cunningham, Brownlie , Maclean, Watson.
Hamilton: Kerr, Coakley, Evans, Giard, McGonigle, McIntosh, Mctear (Ross, 70), Molley (Pagliarulo, 70), Quinn (Scott, 55), Sinclair. Subs: Blues, Kane, Muir, Sturrock.